Halo Infinite Single-Player Review - IGN

Halo Infinite’s single-player campaign, like a new generation of Master Chief’s MJOLNIR armor, powers up a 20-year-old series, by both returning to its roots and blazing new trails to build off of. By shifting to an open-world map while retaining the classic gameplay both on foot and in its iconic vehicles, it offers a level of freedom in combat not seen in any prior Halo game. There’s a lot to do in this expansive playground, and completing its never-dull-or-overwhelming list of activities earns more combat options and, ultimately, more fun. It doesn’t quite recapture the environmental variety or memorable story of the original trilogy, but it’s still a thrilling return to form for one of gaming’s most beloved series, and for Master Chief himself.

[Orchard]

The reviews are looking great - looks like 343 finally cracked the Halo formula for both MP and SP. Excited to try this out on Wednesday.

[Lightning77]

I also want to point out the last 2 or 3 years key members have been leaving the project, having everyone worried this past few years. Even had a underwhelming showcase last year. The fact that they came together to deliver a very solid Halo experience is impressive.

[4Sh0w]

Hell yeah, sounds like its great. Maaan the MP has been taking all my free time, now seeing that the campaign is very good & about 25hrs on legendary I couldn’t be happier right now. 343 did a great job handling all the criticism and delivered BIGTIME. I cant wait to check it out for myself.

[gamer7804]

Shouldn’t have been rated this high when it’s not feature complete. I love halo but it should be finished when released. That said I can’t wait til may next year when the game will be finished and polished.

[TornRaptor]

Halo always's delivers more game features than a typical Sony or Nintendo 1st party game, and that's not a knock on them, as they both make great games. I just wanted to point out that what they are delivering is more than most games ship with. Personally, I only want to play the campaign by myself, so I am happy, for others waiting on coop and forge they know it's on the way.

[thesoftware730]

How do you know it's not "Polished "..where did you read that ?

[gamer7804]

@tornraptor that may be true but I just hold halo to halo standards and not other games.

@thesoftware730 I’m not speaking to halo specifically but every game released now a days has patches the first few months to fix things or make them better.

[Obscure_Observer]

Let's GOOOOO

[gravedigger]

Oh boy....

Double standard, Orchard. You said that you won't play GT7 because it requires online, but look at this :

John Linneman
@dark1x
My biggest complaint regarding Halo Infinite really is that the disc doesn't contain a playable game. This'll be the first Halo game you can't really own as a standalone copy. This is not a good trend and I hope MS reconsiders things like this.

https://twitter.com/dark1x/...

Internet connection an absolute requirement for getting Halo Infinite. But i guess, it doesn't bothers you for....Xbox game

[BehindTheRows]

That’s why you can’t get worked up when he says stuff. Just know the hypocrisy exists and move on.

OT: Gonna check it out when I have time. Still on Vanguard and the new Sherlock.

[Orchard]

@gravedigger That’s not always online.

It’s common for games to required extra content via download when purchasing the disk nowadays, this has been the norm for a while on most consoles (minus Switch). A lot of games also out strip the disk size now - smart delivery also contributes to that problem.

If I get a disk and install it - can I play offline? Yes - so not always on.

Also I will be playing this on PC not Xbox, so it’s not an “Xbox game” as you put it. PS5 is my primary console, and my only next gen console.

Plus you selectively left out the part of my comment where I said “because racing games are skippable for me”. I don’t consider good FPS games skippable.

Also, Still stalking and obsessed with me I see. Now that I blocked you from sending me your many PMs per day, I guess you now follow me on the comments section instead 🤡

@BehindTheRows sounds like more of a you problem than a me problem 🤷

[gravedigger]

Quote :

"That’s not always online.

It’s common for games to required extra content via download when purchasing the disk nowadays, this has been the norm for a while on most consoles (minus Switch). A lot of games also out strip the disk size now - smart delivery also contributes to that problem.

If I get a disk and install it - can I play offline? Yes - so not always on."

Looks like you didn’t read John's tweet correctly. You CAN'T play game offline at all. Disc is useless. For trash actually. Net connection is an absolute requirement. Many games like Returnal for example, CAN be played OFFLINE. Halo Infinite SINGLEPLAYER campaign you CAN'T. As John pointed it out this'll be the first Halo game you can't really own as a standalone copy. This is not a good trend and he hopes MS reconsiders things like this.

As John said in tweet : Yeah, from what I've seen, if you install it while offline, it says it's incomplete. If you go online and let it try to start, it'll tell you to wait until December 8th

https://mobile.twitter.com/...

Quote

"Also I will be playing this on PC not Xbox, so it’s not an “Xbox game” as you put it. PS5 is my primary console, and my only next gen console."

It is an Xbox game, from XGS. You know :
PC Gaming is better with Xbox on Xbox.com

So, Xbox game everywhere

[Orchard]

I think you're having difficulty reading what he has said. You need to be online to install it, afterwards, you can play offline. You just need internet for that initial download. Not sure what's hard to understand about that.

That's also very common nowadays when games struggle to fit on disks, and Smart Delivery has made that worse since multiple versions of the game need to be on one disk to be truly offline.

If you consider that an Xbox game, then that is down to you. I consider it an Xbox Studios game. An Xbox game to me is a game that plays on the console only.

Either way, I play any game that is good and enjoyable. I'm not tied to a single platform/company because I like to experience a wide array of games. I primarily game on PS5 and PC, have a PC Game Pass subscription, but I also play on Switch too.

[John_McClane]

Same here, can hardly wait!

[pietro1212]

TornRaptor
That's cap. lol

[gravedigger]

Quote :

"I think you're having difficulty reading what he has said. You need to be online to install it, afterwards, you can play offline.
.....

I don't. John wanted to play IMMEDIATELY offline a damn singleplayer campaign. He couldn't. No need to defend a no ownershipnl of physical disc like John Linemann stated.

[Orchard]

So you agree that it isn't always online, since you can play offline after an initial setup phase.

Okay, great, we are in alignment - no need for further discussion :)

[gravedigger]

Quote :
So you agree that it isn't always online, since you can play offline after an initial setup phase.

Okay, great, we are in alignment - no need for further discussion :)

.....

So, you are cheering for no ownership of physical disc. :/

Nveretheless, for a 1st party game it is a dick move for any user whose game was made for a specific platform. Basically you don't own a game/physical copy. For a 3rd party game wouldn't say a word.

[Orchard]

Im not cheeeing for anything. I’m saying that’s the reality. If you go buy a game that is > the disk size, which is semi common nowadays, you own a license to the game and can download the rest of it, that’s it.

My copy of DS for PS5 needed an update to play - does that make it always online? Of course not.

This happens on both PS and Xbox regularly. Switch less so.

[gravedigger]

Quote :

Im not cheeeing for anything. I’m saying that’s the reality. If you go buy a game that is > the disk size, which is semi common nowadays, you own a license to the game and can download the rest of it, that’s it.

My copy of DS for PS5 needed an update to play - does that make it always online? Of course not.

This happens on both PS and Xbox regularly. Switch less so.

........

You're wrong regarding Demon's Souls and also don't put Halo Infinite and Demon's Souls in same basket. Demon's Souls can be played OFFLINE. You can IMMEDIATELY play Demons when around 30 GB of data from disc are installed on console. Also, when you try to enter Boletaria for the first time, if enough data are not installed on console from the disc, it will ask you to download a little more data from the disc . Also, you can finish Demon's without any update OFFLINE.

So, you own a Demon's, but you don't own a Halo Infinite. Period!

[Orchard]

I was referring to Death Stranding, not Demon Souls.

And there are plenty of other examples of both PS4/5 and XB1/SX games where the disk is not playable at all or not fully playable without internet/a download.

This is nothing new nor is it always online.

[gravedigger]

Quote :

I was referring to Death Stranding, not Demon Souls.

And there are plenty of other examples of both PS4/5 and XB1/SX games where the disk is not playable at all or not fully playable without internet/a download.

This is nothing new nor is it always online.

.....

You're wrong about Death Stranding too. You can play it OFFLINE without a sweat. Around 30 GB of data is needed to be copied from disc to start playing. Game is fully playable OFFLINE. But of course, you can't use online features if you don't download a latest patch. Halo Infinite and Death Stranding are not the same.

[Orchard]

"You're wrong about Death Stranding too. You can play it OFFLINE without a sweat."

You can indeed play it offline, just like you can play Halo Infinite offline.

I literally just re-installed Death Stranding DC a few days ago, it required me to take a sizable download to start playing... Dude do you even have a PS5 lol - not that this means DS is 'always online' anyway, it isn't.

Again though, always online means a persistent internet connection is required to play the game - Halo Infinite does not require a persistent internet connection - you can pull your network cable and keep playing just fine.

Not sure what's so hard to understand about that concept... but if you don't understand it now, you never will so I won't even try to educate you any further.

[gravedigger]

Quote :

"You're wrong about Death Stranding too. You can play it OFFLINE without a sweat."

You can indeed play it offline, just like you can play Halo Infinite offline.

I literally just re-installed Death Stranding DC a few days ago, it required me to take a sizable download to start playing... Dude do you even have a PS5 lol - not that this means DS is 'always online' anyway, it isn't.

Again though, always online means a persistent internet connection is required to play the game - Halo Infinite does not require a persistent internet connection - you can pull your network cable and keep playing just fine.

Not sure what's so hard to understand about that concept... but if you don't understand it now, you never will so I won't even try to educate you any further.

.....

Yes, i have PS5 and you can play Death Stranding OFFLINE without a problem with no patches needed. Unless if you want to use online features. Also, if you upgraded the PS4 disc version to PS5, then yes, you need to download PS5 upgrade. Unless if you have PS5 disc version then you don't need to download anything. It can be played OFFLINE immediately when you start the game for the first time.
Halo disc is trash at first, it is not usable just like John stated. Death Stranding IS when you start it for the first time. Don't put Death Stranding and Halo Infinite in same basket because it is not. Like i've said, for a 1st party game it is a dick move for any user whose game was made for a specific platform. Basically you don't own a game/physical copy.

[Shuckylad]

Looking forward to the campaign, it’s been a while since I got my teeth into a story fps.

[NeoGamer232]

Ya, I hear you.

Far Cry - Just more the same Far Cry
CoD - Well, it seems every campaign fall another notch
Battlefield - They've just abandoned campaigns

Nice to see a decent FPS story again. And I loved when I heard there is 25 hours of gameplay (Heroic difficulty).

86 on Metacritic, when was the last time a FPS got that kind of metacritic rating?

[theindiearmy]

"86 on Metacritic, when was the last time a FPS got that kind of metacritic rating?"

Well, Deathloop came out just a couple months ago and has an 88. So we didn't have to go back very far.

[NeoGamer232]

@theindiearmy
Fair enough, but I don't think too many FPS are scoring 85 or higher the last few years. 85+ is reserved for the best of the best shooters.

(Personally, I don't know why shooters can't score higher. Certain genres just get lambasted. FPS, Simulators, RTS, and most arcade racers. Meanwhile action adventures and RPGs get the glory)

[Plagasx]

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[BenRC01]

I feel a shift coming. Happened every gen since ps2.
w
With this, forza and ps5 not really doing anything atm (and if stock allowed) having the premier fps and driving game, not to mention how ridiculously good gamepass is, xbox could once again overtake ps5.
Don't care BTW, have both, just find it interesting.

[CS7]

I don’t think they would overtake PS5 sales wise.

But I do find myself feeling Xbox envy from time to time when I boot up my PS5 and there are only the 4-5 games I’ve bought for it.

First time in my life I’m looking to pickup an Xbox.

But PS exclusives are too good to ignore.

Owning all three consoles is the really tempting now. Glad to see they’re all doing well.

[nitroxhotshot]

Gona be honest I’ve had a ps5 since launch and I’ve played mainly PS4 games on it. Bit underwhelmed so far. Debating picking up a Xbox series s but kinda feel I’d not get the full potential of halo on that, but reluctant to spend all that money for the x 😵‍💫

[sammarshall102]

I don't see it. Horizon Forbidden West and God of War Ragnarok will be all the talk next year

[TheDoomedGuy]

Um...this is when Xbox finally get something big....PlayStation has had several really big hits already this year....with more bigger hits coming next year while Xbox hasn't got much and whatever it will get, most will be thanks to Bethesda and other recently bought studios for IP that used to be multiplatform.

[Atticus_finch]

Over 5 million units behind and that with the cheapest next gen console. So not happening this gen. Special with Horizon and GT7 just a few weeks away.

[anast]

Halo is an average game stuffed with MTs and progression issues. Forza is the only top tier experience so far. I don't see a shift, I see more of the same.

[NotanotherReboot]

BRANDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Atticus_finch]

Has JFK Jr been resuscitated yet?

[Rocosaurus]

Can't wait till the 8th

[TGGJustin]

Ah yes Ryan who also gave Halo 5's campaign a way higher score than it deserved. I stopped trusting him. I'm more inclined to believe this is probably more around an 8

[starsi360]

How can you be inclined to give it an 8 when you haven’t even played it. Honestly, the internet really brings out the stupid in some people.

[r2oB]

That’s only a point difference, hardly a disparity.

[Tedakin]

Okay then explain Gamespot's 9, and Game Informer's 9.3? Ryan do those too?

[Orchard]

This review score appears in line with what other media outlets are coming up with.

[EmperorDalek]

Did he review the campaign by itself? I know IGN gave Halo 5 a 9, which I would probably agree with as the multiplayer was fantastic.

[gamer7804]

He’ll be factually correct but he’s a huge Xbox fan.I’d rather see someone else review it. This was rated too high for a game unfinished.

[FPS_D3TH]

Man 1 point is not only semantics so why post about it but how can you review a game you haven’t played. Lol great post 👍

[thesoftware730]

That's a good score 2 man..I would play a 8 game..means its it's good!

[SyntheticForm]

He's back...

[13sentinel]

I watched Skill ups review.. yea.. I'm not seeing how this campaign is anywhere near 9/10. The gameplay may be great, but that can't carry a single player campaign by itself. Apparently the story is average, characters are poorly written, with 14 repetitive missions set in the same location.. I just dont get 9/10 vibes from this game's campaign...

[Gunstar75]

How can gameplay not carry a game alone. Of course it can. Look at tetris. No story amd crap graphics

[Christopher]

There are some extremist comparisons going on here. Tetris also doesn't have tons of investment in storytelling, graphics, and voice acting like Halo.

While I don't necessarily agree with the idea that gameplay can't sell a game, even if it is intended to have narrative and story elements to it (I still enjoy Alpha Protocol and it has shit everything), I get what 13sentinel is saying. It's not as cut and dry as "Tetris was all gameplay so then all games can be solely based on just gameplay."

There are a bevy of games out there with good gameplay that are criticized for their story.

[Z501]

"How can gameplay not carry a game alone"

In a review. It can't.

You cool with reviewers playing with no sound on (example) because only the gameplay matters?

[IanTH]

Kind of like an instrumental song vs a song with lyrics. An excellently written melody can carry a song entirely, but if you add in lyrics that sound hokey/generic/just plain awful, it can make the song unlistenable.

It's about format & expectations. Arcade experiences like Tetris are all about the gameplay. They don't focus on graphics, they don't have a story; that's not what the devs went for, nor what the players are looking for. If you create a campaign with a dreadful story & unlikable characters, though the gameplay could be great, the rest is going to drag the experience down.

[TGGJustin]

There's a ton of 7/10 and 8/10s out there but people here getting mad that I doubt it's a 9/10 or 10/10 game. It doesn't even have co-op, a Halo staple, and won't until at least May at the earliest. That alone makes it not a 10/10 game

[thesoftware730]

Oh wow! You just said the gameplay being great cant carry a single player game!!!

Dude, great gameplay can 100% carry a single player game!

The complete nonsense I'm reading to diminish this game from a few people are so cringy..because they are things said without real thought.

[13sentinel]

If a game is going to sell me, it needs to be competent in more areas than just gameplay. My opinion and preference.

[Z501]

Not in a review. It all matters.

[TGGJustin]

They worked on this for 6 years and couldn't launch with co-op, a Halo staple, at launch. Not to mention I've lost count of the number of things I've heard them say "we're working to bring that later." I'm not going to reward unfinished games with good scores. The game also forces you to cross-play with the cheaters on PC and there isn't even an in-game report feature. It's honestly sad just how unfinished this game is.

[13sentinel]

Just my opinion🤣 I'm not a major Halo fan. However Halo 3 is one of my favourite FPS of all time. I also enjoyed Halo 4's campaign. I have good memories of the franchise, but once again I'll say I'm not as invested as hard-core fans are. I didn't play reach, Odst, Halo 1 or 2.

I'm just saying from what I've seen, Halo infinite isn't selling me. I expect more from a modern Halo game made in 2021. In order to convince someone like me who isn't a hard-core fan, It's going to take a lot more than this to sell me - If it satisfies the hardcore base there is nothing wrong with that

[Father__Merrin]

The reviews are ranging from 7 to 9 looks like it's a pretty good game

[Rocosaurus]

More like 7,5 to 10.

[slowgamer]

Yes. Surprisingly realistic scores and not just row of tens. FPS games aren't my main cup of tea but sure as hell gonna play this at release.

[00]

hmmm I don't believe them.

[badz149]

LOL the tropes of open world games of late are all for show here in this game but nobody wanna call it as such? it's so nice being a game judge by your own merit rather than being compared to others, ha? minus the boss fights, this is basically Just Cause with Halo coating LOL

[KillaJamm]

Just cause? What lol

[badz149]

sure, the grappling hook, clearing bases to collect upgrades, spawning vehicles and you get new vehicles and weapons with every new bases you cleared, maps being opened gradually as you progress through the story, and missions in the areas becoming visible once you clear the base and approaching the battles with said weapons and vehicles however you like...VERY UNIQUE! /s

[NotanotherReboot]

And Horizon was just a Ubisoft open world game with fancier graphics

[Atticus_finch]

You proved his point.

[NeoGamer232]

Just Cause is a TPS not a FPS. And Just Cause's story is non-existent really.

[Flawlessmic]

2 more days to go, looking forward to jumping back in to halo campaign, halo 3 was the last one i finished.

[moriarty1889]

Excellent reviews across the board.

[Father__Merrin]

Shill review I think. It has features missing at launch that's a fact..

[dbcoops]

Well its Ryan McCaffrey, if you know anything about him and his history at IGN you'd know why he's completely fine overlooking flaws for this game. Its no secret he is a massive xbox fanboy so he's hardly an impartial reviewer.

[Father__Merrin]

No harm in being an xbox fan but if your a reviewer you can't review a game with a notion of ignoring issues merely because your a fan.

Had it been full single player and coop and multiplayer then were talking, but it's like all modes are spliced and it doesn't need to be mentioned. It does look like a great game tho

[ReadyPlayer22]

Even with features missing at launch, it has more content than most of Sony's 1st party games of the last two years. But nah, $70 games that can be finished in 10 hours are the only GOTY.

[Chevalier]

Ghost of Tsushima, Spiderman and Horizon all have plenty of play time. Even Returnal did. Definitely not 10 hour games. Also there are a bunch of short Xbox games as well so not sure what your point is. I'd personally rather have a highly enjoy a short game over a long boring one. It's not the length of time that matter rather that you enjoy the game.

Having said that. Halo looking like it's returning to form.

[dbcoops]

How would you know how much content Sony's first party games have had in the last two years? Its not as if you've played any of them.

[dbcoops]

IGN should have got someone else to review it.

[Tedakin]

Why? Someone who would have given it a worse review to make you feel better?

[Tedakin]

Co-Op is the only feature missing in the campaign. You guys act like half the game isn't there.

[dbcoops]

"Why? Someone who would have given it a worse review to make you feel better?"

Someone to give it a reputable and unbiased review.

[Tedakin]

@dbcoops this 9 out of 10 is on par with every other major outlet review. Are they all biased? Cope.

[Andrew336]

What does missing co op have to do with the quality of the single player campaign which is what was reviewed?

[Donjune]

Microsoft keeps dropping Jem's to be reviewed! The numbers don't lie. And day one on Gamepass to boot lol

[ARESWARLORD]

I am looking forward to playing the campaign big time.

[hiawa23]

Awesome. Took a vacation this week to celebrate Halo I. Can't wait.

[Sprucegoose77]

Cool, too bad you can't find a Series X. Been trying for months. Don't want to settle on an S. Oh well maybe next year the supply chain will improve!

[DefaultComment]

I'm so glad Halo is once again on the top. A good campaing single player experience and a great multiplayer it's all it needs.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Crying tears of joy! They finally did it!

[343_Guilty_Spark]

"Xbox has no games...."

Aht aht ahhh...you can't use that anymore.

Xbox has games, and several high quality experiences

[Atticus_finch]

Just have to wait until they are finished after launch.

[Traecy]

Besides Halo & Forza what other new exclusive AAA action,action adventure or rpgs titles are there to play on the series X/S? I thought about buying an S just to buy one because there are no series X available including my friend has an X but there isn't anything out far as exclusives that I would be interested to play. I thought about playing older titles like FFXIII on the S but the BC resolution does even match the XBO-X or the series X. I'll probably just wait until new original AAA exclusives are released until buying an XB console.

[Rockstar]

Preloaded and ready to go!

[TheDoomedGuy]

Yeah...great scores overall...mostly due to the multiplayer being good. Single player is universally average. I like halo for single player so unfortunately it'll be an average halo for me most likely.

[anast]

Xbox hater here and I enjoy commenting on every Halo article I see. I am also angry that they turned things around. I was enjoying the car wreck they put out earlier and I wanted to see more of this.

Anyway, anything with MTs and progression issues automatically means average . I'm sure the SP campaign is slightly above average when compared to the boring play Xbox has been pumping out for the last decade. This SP mode still won't hold to games that were not designed to be Destiny. IGN gives just about everything a 10, if they are scared of the publisher.

[CS7]

I hope you’re able to get some sunlight and have a great life. You seem miserable.

[anast]

This is fun to me.

[Suave_Langosta]

I’m trying to stay away from YouTube and spoiler reviews. Maybe someone here can shed some insight, I wanna go in fresh as possible but… are the promethean in the game? Or have they gone the way of the flood?

[Rhythmattic]

I started with Marathon.. Then CE. (bungie.. Not Three for Free)
But how many times a grappling hook gets dumped on as a game mechanic with other series....., but here, oh... its soooo different..

ROTFL..

Looks the same , but what? Its more open? Like other games that did the same, added a less linear funnel, actually also changed locations, but were called the same game?

Enjoy the log in, seperate cheap az MS Subscription experience.

Just Like Halo, its a Halo product...

Obvious is obvious... MS,Sony, Ninety... Its fking happening... And the rugs gonna get pulled on you entilted types, using the "Great for Consumers" tag......

Competition is why Nike, apple etc etc moved their manufacturing to china.... Its the same model.

Games on Sub's are just gonna deliver games more and more less in completion , but will cost more , for just that little more....

[Rhythmattic]

To Add.. Yeh.. Im not a Gamer these days... Im playing less and less of what these days is just more and more the same.

Mostly , A Flash in the Pan.

[esherwood]

I was pumped to play it but honestly I’m already over it. Guess open world games aren’t for me because searching for collectibles and having to spend 5-10 getting across the map just pisses me off.